Born in Vienna on November 19, 1909 and died November 11, 2005. His kindergarten teacher taught the concept of management", the school he attended in 4th grade focused on what people can do and his religious instructor asked,: "What do you want to be remembered for?"
Moved from Austria to Germany in the 1920s, to study admiralty law at Hamburg University, before transferring to Frankfurt University. Studied law at night. Became senior editor in charge of foreign affairs and business at Frankfurt's largest daily newspaper, The Frankfurter General-Anzeiger.
Received a Ph.D. in international law from Frankfurt University in the 1930s. Moved to London after one of his essays was banned and burned by the Nazi government. Began teaching economics part time at Sarah Lawrence College. Married Doris Schmitz and moved to America as correspondent for several British newspapers, including The Financial Times.
Became a regular contributor to Harper's Magazine in the 1940s. Took on his first of many consulting projects for General Motors resulting in the publication of his landmark book, Concept of the Corporation (1945). Became professor of philosophy and politics at Bennington College and served as columnist for The Wall Street Journal.
Joined the faculty of New York University as professor of management in the 1950s, where he received the Presidents Citation in the 1960s. Begins his first consulting assignment with Sears Roebuck.
Became the Clarke professor of social sciences and management at The Claremont Graduate School in California during the 1970s. Accepts position as Lecturer in Oriental Art at Pomona College. Appointed to the Board of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. Began a twenty-year tenure as monthly columnist for the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal.
In the 1980s, the Claremont Graduate Center of Management named for Peter Drucker. Publishes eight new titles in addition to maintaining active teaching and consulting activities.
In the 1990s, he became the Godkin Professor at Harvard University. The Drucker Center became the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management at the Claremont Graduate University. The Drucker Archives and collections inaugurated. Publishes nine new titles.
The Frontiers of Management: Where Tomorrow's Decisions Are Being Shaped Today
Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Practice and Principles
Ledarskap i Brytningstider: Managing in Turbulent Times